It was something from a few months ago. Around the time when dozens of days had passed since Chairman Cheon told Manager Ha to look into Cheon Mi-sook's matter.
"Chairman, it is Myeong-hun."
"Come in."
Opening the study door and walking in, Manager Ha's face was stiff. It was a rare occurrence for him, as he was usually someone who was rarely agitated.
"What is going on? Why is your expression so stiff? Did something happen in Myeon District?"
Chairman Cheon asked, looking a little surprised, but Manager Ha could not easily open his mouth.
"Huh, why are you hesitating so much? This is unlike you, Myeong-hun. What is it?"
"...Chairman."
"No, this guy. Why are you like this today? Just what exactly is going on?"
"It is about Miss Mi-sook's incident."
As Cheon Mi-sook's name came out of Manager Ha's mouth, Chairman Cheon's expression immediately stiffened. As if he already had a premonition about the story he was about to hear.
"I heard that the only surviving police officer who was in charge of the case was in a foreign country, so I tracked him down after asking around."
"...Was it a contract hit?"
Perhaps Chairman Cheon had faintly known all along. That even if he turned a blind eye, the fact that they were blood would never disappear.
"I am sorry. I should have paid more attention."
"No, it is not your fault. Before we blame anyone, hurry up and speak. Who is it?"
"...It was something Teacher Park was involved in. That means the Blue Wind Association is behind it."
Chairman Cheon quietly closed his eyes as the words Blue Wind Association came out. Manager Ha stood in front of him like a sinner. After staying silent for a long time, Chairman Cheon opened his eyes.
His voice, when heard again, was trembling.
"Just what benefit could the Blue Wind Association possibly get from getting rid of Mi-sook? Is it great enough to risk going to war with me? After everything I have done for them."
Manager Ha gave no reply.
"Do not tell me... it is not, right?"
"I am sorry."
Manager Ha simply could not bring himself to say the fact that Boss Cheon Su-man was involved. However, it was not a fact that one only knew after hearing it. Chairman Cheon's expression crumbled.
"Tell me exactly as it is. Without leaving anything out or adding anything in, just the facts as they are."
"...The man our staff met said he conducted a formal investigation under orders from his superiors. But when everyone who investigated the matter died, he was so scared that he emigrated. That is why we began investigating domestically."
Chairman Cheon listened to his words, intertwining his hands and rubbing his thumbs together. Watching that blankly, Manager Ha added with difficulty.
"We dug all the way to the upper echelons of the police... and it was confirmed that Boss Cheon Su-man was involved."
Chairman Cheon's fingers suddenly stopped.
"It seems he did not participate directly, but seeing how he intentionally blocked the information coming to you, Chairman, it appears there was a prior transaction between the two sides. Because if there was anyone to benefit from the young lady's death, it would only be the bosses."
Even Manager Ha, who rarely expressed emotion, had a trembling voice at the end. Chairman Cheon's hands were also visibly trembling.
"The two men who directly murdered Miss Mi-sook are currently being tracked. We presume they are in the country, and we will catch them as soon as we find them."
Manager Ha's words no longer registered in Chairman Cheon's ears. The sheer fact that his sons were involved in his daughter's death was enough to make his heart collapse. It was his own fault for not seeing his sons for who they truly were.
In the study where their conversation had broken off, only Chairman Cheon and Manager Ha's breathing sounds flowed for a while.
"There is no need to catch them and bring them here. Kill them right away. Do not let them die easily. Make it the most painful way in the world... Yes, throw them as dog food like we used to."
"Understood."
"This matter must absolutely not reach Mu-hyeok's ears. Thoroughly track down the people involved and kill them. As for Su-man... leave him alone for now."
"But..."
"I know you thought of Mi-sook like an older sister, Myeong-hun. Because she especially cared for you guys when you were young. But... I cannot kill my own blood with my own hands, can I? Did Su-han know about this too?"
"...Boss Cheon Su-han's involvement was not confirmed in any traces."
"I see. That is a relief at least."
At the words that Cheon Su-han's traces were not found, Chairman Cheon let out a sigh of relief. Manager Ha quietly stared at Chairman Cheon, who was lost in thought while touching his chin with his hand. After a long time passed, Chairman Cheon's mouth opened.
"Myeong-hun."
"Yes, Chairman."
"If we clash with the Blue Wind Association with the resolve to go to war, what would our win rate be?"
"...Are you talking about a war?"
"Yes. If we fight them with the resolve that one of us will disappear."
"The chances of winning would be less than twenty percent."
"Huh..."
A sound that was hard to tell whether he was grinding his teeth or letting out a sigh came from Chairman Cheon's mouth.
"What if we use the ledger?"
"If you use that, you could bring it up to fifty percent. However, Chairman. The moment you use it, all the power you hold will become pieces of scrap paper. Even if you win then, you will lose everything. Your family, your money, and even your life."
There was a ledger that recorded all the bribes Cheon Tae-san had offered to the Blue Wind Association, politicians, bureaucrats, and the military throughout his entire life. It meant that even if he used that, it would still only be fifty percent.
At the words that he could not guarantee victory even if he threw away his everything, Chairman Cheon lost his words and closed his eyes.
"Why on earth did they join hands with Su-man? Just what in the world are they thinking?"
"I think they considered the time after you pass away, Chairman. Have you not been reducing support for the Blue Wind Association since the new military regime? For them, Boss Cheon Su-man would have been an easier target to deal with than you, Chairman."
"...Yes, so that was it. Now everything makes sense. There was a reason why he kept offering them money even when I tried so hard to stop him. I thought he did it just to get Ilseong, but he had circumstances where he had no choice but to offer them money."
All the puzzle pieces were falling into place. Cheon Su-man's behavior of clinging to the Blue Wind Association. And the reason why he was overly wary of Kim Mu-hyeok and disapproved of him.
"Postpone the revenge for now. Not yet. We can only take our revenge when our win rate surpasses seventy percent."
"...Understood. What will you do about the boss?"
"Leave him be. Because I plan on sending him down to Jeju Island after handing everything over to Mu-hyeok. I will say this once again, but this story must absolutely not reach Mu-hyeok's ears. I must at least stop a bloodbath from blowing between my own flesh and blood."
"Understood."
"I want to be alone, so leave."
Manager Ha carefully closed the door and left the study. In the study that had become silent, only the small sobbing of an old man could be heard.
Grandfather, with tears welling up in his eyes, ultimately could not answer.
"Grandfather, please... I do not want to end up hating you as well, Grandfather."
"Mu-hyeok. I will not ask for your forgiveness. But can you not just feign ignorance and let it go?"
"Did you ask me to let it go? Who will return my childhood to me when I grew up without my parents? I have to avenge my parents who died unjustly. Do you not understand? If you do not sort this out now, they will eventually try to take my life too."
"Even so... how can I kill my own child with my own hands. That will absolutely never happen, not until I am in my grave."
It was exactly as I had expected. The reason why I postponed my revenge against the Cheon Su-man and Cheon Su-han brothers for a while was because of Grandfather. Even the iron-blooded Grandfather was exceptionally weak when it came to his family.
"I will not ask you to kill them. Just get them out of my sight. Please send them to a place where they will never cross paths with me again. Strip them of everything they have, so that they can realize what they did wrong."
I could kill them at any time. Even now, I could kill them if I set my mind to it. However, I did not want to inflict the pain of losing family upon Grandfather once again.
I wanted to trust Grandfather's sincerity just one more time.
"How did you know?"
"That is not what is important right now, is it, Grandfather."
"...Will it be enough if I send Su-man abroad?"
"Only if you take back everything you have given him."
I felt angry seeing Grandfather unable to answer.
"Otherwise, I will leave your side, Grandfather. I will go abroad, and return when I have the power to take revenge on them with my own strength."
If Grandfather could not let go of his lingering attachments, I was planning to let go of mine.
"I will leave Korea with Grandma. Thank you for everything until now, Grandfather."
At my resolute words, a sense of bewilderment could be felt on Grandfather's face for the first time.
"Mu-hyeok."
For the first time in my two lives, I ignored Grandfather's call and turned my back on him first. The moment the study door opened, I was planning to throw away all my attachments and build up the power to take revenge with my own hands, no matter how long it took. In this life, it was entirely possible.
"...I understand. Stop. This grandpa was wrong."
I stopped my steps heading toward the door. When I turned back around, Grandfather's figure was not the imposing Chairman Cheon, but merely a powerless and lonely old man, just like Grandma.
"As long as you are alive, Grandfather, I will absolutely never get my maternal uncles' blood on my hands. I promise you."
"...Did Su-han know as well?"
"Yes. I heard the story from him. Whether he found out later or knew from the beginning, he knew."
"...Please do not hate Ji-won, Ji-soo, and Ji-young."
Grandfather was not scary to me anymore.
"Yes. I promise you."
"Myeong-hun, come in."
Manager Ha's face was also stiff as he opened the door and came in.
"You heard everything, right? Take back everything I gave to those two fools. I will call the Chairman of Ilseong, so you go find Ji-young's mother and get her stamp on the divorce papers."
"Chairman, are you alright?"
Grandfather did not answer Manager Ha's words.
"And once you have taken everything, send them abroad. Just give them enough money to settle down and send them off. They still have to live, after all."
"Chairman..."
As expected, to the very end, Grandfather was still a grandfather. But I did not say anything about that much. There was no need to push him any further here.
"Put all other matters on hold and do this first. Strip Su-han of all the privileges he was receiving there. Once he gets out, send him abroad like Su-man."
"Understood."
"Is this enough?"
"Yes."
"Both of you leave. I want to be alone."
Issuing an order of eviction to Manager Ha and me, Grandfather turned around and looked out the window. We came outside.
"You were too harsh as well, Manager Ha. How could you not tell me about my mother's matter?"
"I am sorry. I also feel heartbroken over Miss Mi-sook's matter."
"...I will trust you."
Leaving Manager Ha behind, I left the house. It was a day that I absolutely could not endure with a sober mind.
"Please go to Myeong-soo's house."
Section Chief Ma silently drove the car. A short while later, we arrived at Myeong-soo's house. When I rang the bell, Myeong-soo came out.
"What is this without even calling?"
Myeong-soo, who was speaking while opening the door, stopped talking when he saw my face.
"What is wrong with you? Did something happen?"
At those words, my vision finally blurred.
"Ha, why the hell is this punk sniffling and crying? Just come in first."
I went into the house with Myeong-soo. Myeong-soo, who brought cold water, handed me a cup.
"Man, this punk who usually never cries just shows up out of the blue acting like this. What is it? What happened?"
"You have alcohol, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Give it to me."
Myeong-soo took one look at my face, let out a sigh, and brought out some soju. I snatched the soju bottle from Myeong-soo as he opened the cap and tried to pour it into a glass. I gulped down the whole bottle without pausing.
"Has this punk really gone crazy?"
The bitter scent of alcohol wrapped around my nose and went down my esophagus.
"Myeong-soo. Let's just stay like this for today. I am sorry."
I held onto Myeong-soo and poured out all my remaining emotions. I cried until I grew exhausted and fell asleep. When I opened my eyes the next day, I made a vow.
That I would not be sad anymore. Just being sad would not get me what I wanted. 'Live in constant tension.
Live in the terror of not knowing when you will die.' What I promised Grandfather was that I would not kill them. Right, all I had to do was not kill them.
< I Won't Ask You to Kill Them. > The End